SANTIAGO, Chile — On the second-to-last day of competition at the 2023 Parapan American Games, Team USA added a variety of medals, featuring gold in athletics, wheelchair basketball and taekwondo. The U.S also got silver medals in athletics, while notching bronze medals in Cerebral Palsy football, athletics and wheelchair tennis.

Team USA’s medal count is 156 (52 gold, 54 silver and 50 bronze).

In wheelchair basketball, the men’s team matched the women’s gold medal from yesterday with a convincing 81-45 win over Colombia. The U.S outscored its opponent 26-7 in the first quarter, paving the way to the top of the podium. Jacob Williams and Steven Sorio combined for 47 points, two of nine scorers for the red, white and blue. 

In taekwondo, the U.S’ Evan Mendell won his gold medal bout over Brazil’s Lucas Moraes 10-0 in the men’s +80kg competition. Earlier on Saturday, he defeated the Dominican Republic’s Julio Figuereo in the semifinals. In other taekwondo action, veteran Michael Kacer lost both of his bouts in the men’s -80kg. 

At Estadio Nacional, history was made as Hannah Dederick broke a Parapan American Games record, finishing the women’s T54 100m final in 16.19 seconds. The time beat her 17.30 mark that she set in Lima, Peru, four years ago. 

In the women’s T64 100m, the United States took the entire podium as Beatriz Hatz finished in 13.41s for gold while Sydney Barta and Catherine Carey took silver and bronze, respectively. Brianna Salinaro won gold in the women’s T35 100m, finishing in 15.90s, which was a personal record. Her American counterpart, Delaney Nolin, took bronze. 

The U.S also saw gold medals in the men’s long jump T13 (Tyson Gunter) and the men’s T54 1500m (Miguel Jimenez-Vergara). 

In the women’s discus throw F64, Jessica Heims and Alicia Guerrero took silver and bronze with 35.37m and 29.01m, respectively. Chloe Chavez got fifth with 25.65 as Mexico’s Osiris Machado won gold with 41.16, a world record. 

In other athletics competition, Catarina Guimaraes earned silver with 4.40m while Madison Hahs finished just off the podium in fourth with 3.19m. Chelsea Stein took silver in the women’s 100m T53 with a time of 18.55s. 

The United States almost took gold in the Universal 4×100 relay as Brazil, Colombia and the U.S all finished within 0.3 seconds, but the U.S took bronze in the event. 

Moving to the tennis court, the United States picked up a bronze medal in quad doubles as USA’s Andrew Bognadov and David Wagner defeated Colombia’s Daniel Campaz and Albeiro Moreno in straight sets (6-4, 6-4). Casey Ratzlaff fell in three sets to Brazil’s Daniel Rodrigues (3-6, 7-6 (7-3), 3-6) in the men’s singles bronze medal match. 

In badminton, Miles Krajewski cruised against Peru’s Nilton Quispe in the men’s SH6 singles semifinals, winning 2-0 (21-6 & 21-19). Jayci Simon won her semifinal match 2-0 (21-10, 21-14) in women’s singles SH6 over Peru’s Rubi Fernandez. Both compete for gold on Sunday. 

Lastly, the United States earned a bronze medal in CP Football in a 3-0 win over Venezuela. 

PHOTO OF THE DAY:

ON SUNDAY: Krajewski and Simon play for gold on Standing Court No. 1 in badminton. In road cycling, the United States has about 10 cyclists competing in a variety of competitions. It’s the final day of competition as the closing ceremony begins at 8:15 p.m. CLT (6:15 p.m. EST). 

Check out the Wheelchair Sports Federation Media page for constant coverage throughout the 2023 Parapan American Games.